Mitsubishi Electric has produced a new brochure to highlight the benefits of using a renewable Ecodan air source heat pump in a hybrid situation, alongside an existing oil, gas or LPG boiler.

The brochure also provides details on how hybrid systems can qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and includes information on typical set ups and real-life case studies.

“Adding an Ecodan to an existing traditional heating system enables homeowners to maximise energy efficiency, comfort levels and reliability”, explains John Kellett, General Manager for the company’s Heating Systems Division. “It offers them the best of both worlds to provide total peace of mind”.

A hybrid or bivalent system allows the heat pump to deliver the majority of the heating efficiently throughout the year, and call on the traditional boiler to provide the peak output if outdoor conditions fall below a point where heating in this way becomes more cost effective.

The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) predicts that by 2030 approximately 26% of the UK’s heating energy output will be met by air source heat pumps alone, and as much as 56% will be met by hybrid systems.

Mitsubishi Electric has developed the Ecodan range to operate as a hybrid system, allowing homeowners to upgrade their traditional heating system by installing and running a heat pump alongside it.

The advanced control system inherent in all new Ecodan systems carefully controls which system to operate to maximise efficiency at any time of the year. Including a heat meter will also enable Ofgem to know exactly how much heat is being produced by the renewable heat pump to help with RHI calculations.

“Interest in renewable heating continues to grow as the price of oil and gas keeps on rising, so adding Ecodan as a hybrid solution can make a lot of sense, especially when you factor in seven years of regular RHI payments”, adds Kellett.